City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: February 18, 2025
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Development Department Activity Report
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CDBG/Urban County. Staff continues to coordinate with Monterey County in programming available CDBG funds for city needs.
HOUSING
Vista Lucia Specific Plan. City staff and the developer team have finalized the language of the Development Agreement which will serve and instruct both the City and housing development interests for the next 20 years. Last adjustments are being made to Conditions of Approval for the first Tentative Subdivision Map of 236.6 acres, including the potential for 1,247 dwelling units. The project will soon track to the Planning Commission, City Council and LAFCo.
Outreach. The City continues to add names and groups (including realtors, commercial brokers and civic leaders) to the “Interested in Housing” list for our citizens (241 persons as of February 10, 2025).
People on the list will be invited to the Planning Commission and City Council public hearings, and then to the LAFCo public hearing annexation proposal.
Housing Element. The City came under contract with Placeworks Inc. on January 13, 2025, to prepare implementation documents and ordinances for City action to adopt the 6th Cycle Housing Element.
Funds have previously been secured through AMBAG’s administration of REAP 2.0 grant monies. Staff will track the 6th Cycle Housing Element certification through Planning Commission and City Council following the coming City actions on the Vista Lucia Specific Plan.
AGENDA
ITEM
9 CODE ENFORCEMENT
The City continues to meet with property owners, inspect potential violations and start documentation to progress to remedies. In January/February, seven (7) new cases were opened regarding improper parking of vehicles in front yards within residential neighborhoods. Two situations were abated, others have follow-up inspections yet to come, and two have asked to have extensions on the City follow-up as alternative locations for the violating vehicles has proven difficult.
BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY
From January 1, 2025, through January 31, 2025 (31 reporting days), the City issued 9 permits for a water heater, furnace, reroofs, photovoltaic work associated with solar installations and an EV charger. The estimated value of improvements was $91,745.73.
GENERAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY
Potential Mini Storage and Vehicle Storage. The Community Development Department continues in January 2025 to work with the applicant as his proposal takes shape for new commercial / industrial uses on Gonzales River Road on the western city edge. What has delayed the matter is that the applicant proceeded with site improvements prior to FEMA review, and without submitting full civil-engineered site and development plans to the City. Resolution of the flood zone issue and a complete submittal for review and approval of acceptable site and development plans by the Community Development and Public Works Department are still outstanding. The City should not issue a City Business License until the facility has shown that it can meet code (life, health and safety standards). The potential here is to provide support for our major agricultural processing giants but will also include mini storage and vehicle storage opportunities for the public. City staff has been very accommodating and assistive to the applicant.